To Nourish Body and Spirit

National Nutrition Month 2013—Make It Healthy

March is National Nutrition Month. The theme on this 40th anniversary is “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.” What do these terms mean when it comes to your lifestyle, food habits, cultural and ethnic choices, and health concerns?

Your Way. Is it necessary for you to eat exactly as others eat? When I taught nutrition, students would walk past my table at lunch time to see what I was eating. They wanted assurance that I practiced what I preached—that I ate right. But it isn’t about what I choose to eat. It’s about your choices.

We are unique individuals with different tastes and varied likes and dislikes. We enjoy some foods more than others. But we can give healthful choices a fair chance.

Brussels sprouts were never my favorite vegetable. Recently, I purchased a container of the fresh vegetable and decided to give them another try. After washing and trimming, I dropped them into a small pot with a minimal amount of boiling water and cooked, uncovered, about five to six minutes. I chose not to add salt, but most will find a light seasoning more acceptable. I gently lifted the bright green heads from the water, placed them into a serving dish, and topped with butter. The small amount of seasoning gave me enough saltiness and a delightful flavor. If you limit your choices of vegetables, find ways to make them more appealing. It may surprise you how tasty you find those disliked vegetables.

Every Day. Should you fail one day to get all your fruits, veggies, whole grains, protein foods, or low-fat milk products, you will not come down with some terrible disease. Continual disregard for these foods, however, may affect your health. Seek to include these healthful choices daily. At the end of the day, mentally ask yourself if you had the recommended amounts. Adding a missed fruit, low-fat milk product, or other low-calorie food after your evening meal could be a good idea if it helps to meet your nutritional needs.

2 Responses

Great post! Happy Registered Dietitian’s Day! RD’s are America’s food and nutrition experts, as indicated by our new credential RDN just announced by AND today. Take pride in our profession and your commitment to health and nutrition. Let’s begin using our new credential, RDN right away.